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Nobleman

The Lets See Library from Compass Point Books introduces young readers
to a range of fascinating subjects. Each book in the Lets See Library
contains full-color images and easy-to-read text. A glossary, Did You Know?
and Want to Know More? resources, and an index are included.
Look for all the series in the Lets See Library:
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Communications

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Our Nation

Earth Day

Ancient Civilizations

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Hanukkah

Passover

Earth Day

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Presidents Day

Easter

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Election Day

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Reinforced Library Binding

Compass Point Books

Christmas

by Marc Tyler Nobleman

by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Content Adviser: Laura OLaughlin, Coordinator,

USA Programs and Environmental Education,
Earth Day Network, Washington, D.C.
Reading Adviser: Susan Kesselring, M.A., Literacy Educator,
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan (Minnesota) School District
Lets See Library
Compass Point Books
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Compass Point Books

3109 West 50th Street, #115
Minneapolis, MN 55410
Visit Compass Point Books on the Internet at www.compasspointbooks.com
or e-mail your request to custserv@compasspointbooks.com

Table of Contents
What Is Earth Day?

When Is Earth Day?

Who Created Earth Day?

Creative Director: Terri Foley

Managing Editor: Catherine Neitge
Editors: Brenda Haugen and Christianne Jones
Photo Researcher: Marcie C. Spence
Designers: Melissa Kes and Les Tranby
Educational Consultant: Diane Smolinski

When Did Earth Day Begin?

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What Did Earth Day Change?

13

What Issues Are Important on Earth Day?

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nobleman, Marc Tyler.
Earth Day / by Marc Tyler Nobleman.
v. cm. (Lets see)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: What is Earth Day?When is Earth Day?Who created Earth Day?When did Earth Day begin?What
did Earth Day change?What issues are important on Earth Day?What events occur on Earth Day?How can I help on
Earth Day?What does Earth Day mean to people?
ISBN 0-7565-0645-X (Hardcover)
ISBN 0-7565-0951-3 (Paperback)
1. Earth DayJuvenile literature. 2. Environmental protectionJuvenile literature. [1. Earth Day. 2.Environmental
protection. 3. Holidays.] I. Title. II.Series.
GE195.5.N63 2004
333.72dc22
2003023607

What Events Occur on Earth Day?

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How Can I Help on Earth Day?

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What Does Earth Day Mean to People?

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Glossary

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On the cover: Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in California

Photographs : W. Cody/Corbis, cover; Fotopic/Index Stock Imagery, 4; Unicorn Stock Photos/Rich Baker, 6; Alex
Wong/Getty Images, 8; AP/Wide World Photos, 10; Digital Vision, 12, 20; USDA/ARS/Scott Bauer, 14; Skjold
Photographs, 16; Warren Morgan/Corbis, 18.

Copyright 2005 by Compass Point Books

Did You Know?

Want to Know More?
Index

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The publisher takes
no responsibility for the use of any of the materials or methods described in this book, nor for the products thereof.
Printed in the United States of America.

NOTE: In this book, words that are defined in the glossary

are in bold the first time they appear in the text.

What Is Earth Day?

People celebrate our planet on Earth Day.

They work together to help the environment.
They clean up their communities.
Earth Day began in the United States.
Today, people all around the world have
this holiday.
Earth Day is not a day off for schools,
post offices, banks, government offices,
and companies. Yet no matter where people
are on this special day, they know its
everyones job to take care of our planet.

Two boys put papers in a recycling bin.

When Is Earth Day?

Earth Day is every April 22. If April 22 is a weekday,

people sometimes have special events during the
weekend before or the weekend after Earth Day.
In some places, people make Earth Day longer.
They celebrate Earth Week or even Earth Month.
Some people have another Earth Day on the
first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
The first day of spring changes from year to year,
but it is around March 21.
Many people believe the message of Earth Day
is too important for only one day. They believe
everyone should help the earth all the time. They
say, Earth Day is every day.

Members of a recycling committee give out free tree seedlings.

Who Created Earth Day?

Gaylord Nelson started Earth Day.

Nelson was born in 1916. He has had many
important jobs. He worked in the Wisconsin Senate.
He was elected governor of Wisconsin. He was a
United States senator for 18 years.
Nelson was worried about the environment.
Factories, cars, and cities had caused pollution. He
knew this was bad for humans, animals, and plants.
Nelson came up with the idea for Earth Day in
the early 1960s. He tried to get people to support
his idea. It took many years before they did.

Former Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson

When Did Earth Day Begin?

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. Denis Hayes
was in charge of Earth Day for the whole country.
He helped Gaylord Nelson plan the events. Nelson
and Hayes started a new holiday.
People thought Earth Day was a great idea.
Twenty million people around the United States
went to Earth Day activities. Many of those people
were students from thousands of schools.
People gathered peacefully in parks. They
listened to speeches. They cleaned up litter. They
showed the countrys leaders that they wanted a
healthier environment.

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Denis Hayes in the Washington, D.C ., office where he helped plan 1970s Earth Day

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What Did Earth Day Change?

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Earth Day made people think about the

environment. They wanted to make a difference.
Earth Day caused the United States government to
pass many laws to protect the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was
formed in 1970. Soon, laws were passed to protect
the air and water from becoming polluted.
The Endangered Species Act was passed in
1973. This law protects plants and animals. It also
protects animals habitats, the places where they
live. The Endangered Species Act helps make sure
plants and animals will not become extinct.

Sea otters are among the animals protected by the Endangered Species Act.

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What Issues Are Important

on Earth Day?

Earth Day was created to save the planet from more

harm. So all environmental issues are important on
Earth Day.
Scientists try to find better and safer methods to
grow food and make energy. They try to find ways
to prevent waste. They look for ways to get rid of
pollution in the air, water, and soil.
Scientists work on ways to get rid of insect
pests without using harmful pesticides.
People also try to stop deforestation, which is
chopping down lots of trees in one place.

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Scientists look at an insect trap made from papaya fruit.

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What Events Occur on Earth Day?

On Earth Day, people speak out against all types of

pollution. They listen to ideas about how to fix the
environment. They go to rallies. A rally is a big
gathering of people who are working toward the
same goal. Sometimes they wear clothes that have
Earth Day sayings on them.
Communities host Earth Day parades, concerts,
and festivals. People plant trees. Schools run Earth
Day programs. These are fun events with a serious
message. They ask people to keep the earth clean,
now and into the future.

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People work together to plant a tree.

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How Can I Help on Earth Day?

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There are many ways to help the environment.

You do not even have to leave home.
You can recycle. Many things can be recycled,
including cans, plastic bottles, and newspapers.
Communities often have recycling pick-up services.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. This
cuts down on paper waste. Turn off the lights when
you leave a room. This cuts down on energy waste.
Do not leave the water running when you brush
your teeth. This cuts down on water waste. Walk or
ride a bicycle with your family instead of going in a
car. This cuts down on air pollution.

A family bicycles instead of riding in a car.

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What Does Earth Day

Mean to People?

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Earth Day is a holiday of hope. It is a symbol of the

future. On Earth Day, people stop and think about
the planet. They enjoy the earths beauty and work
to keep it clean. They see that every person can
make a difference. Even small actions can have
big effects.
Our planet gives us life. Sometimes we forget
this. Earth Day is only one day, but it reminds
people that taking care of our planet every day
is important.

Maroon Lake in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado

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Glossary
environmentnatural surroundings such
as air, water, and wildlife
extinctno longer existing
Northern Hemispherethe half of Earth
that is above, or north of, the equator; the
United States is one of the countries in the
Northern Hemisphere

pesticideschemicals used to keep

animals and insects from eating plants
pollutionwaste that people put into
the water, land, and air
wastegarbage

Did You Know?

 On the first Earth Day, John Lindsay,
the mayor of New York City, closed busy
Fifth Avenue to automobiles for two
hours. He wanted to show how clean
and quiet a street without cars could be.
 World Environment Day is another
special time to remember how important
the earth is. In 1972, the United Nations
chose June 5 of every year to be World
Environment Day. On this day, world
leaders make promises to take care
of the earth now and into the future.
People also plant trees, plan clean-up
days, and hold bicycle parades.

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 Clean Up the World weekends are

held in September in many parts of the
world. The event started in Australia after
Ian Kiernan organized a clean-up
of Sydney Harbor. Now people in many
countries celebrate Clean Up the World
weekends by picking up trash near where
they live.
 In 1990, people in 141 countries took
part in the 20th anniversary of Earth Day.
By 2000, people in 184 countries
celebrated Earth Day.

Want to Know More?

In the Library

On the Road

Douglas, Lloyd G. Lets Get Ready for

Earth Day. New York: Childrens
Press, 2003.
Gray, Shirley W. Wetlands. Minneapolis:
Compass Point Books, 2001.
Margaret, Amy. Earth Day. New York:
Power Kids Press, 2002.
Rau, Dana Meachen. Earth. Minneapolis:
Compass Point Books, 2003.

Colburn Earth Science Museum

2 South Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
828/254-7162
To learn about the earth and its resources
Many childrens and science museums have
annual Earth Day exhibits and events.
Check the ones closest to you. If they dont
have Earth Day events, suggest one!

On the Web
For more information on Earth Day,
use FactHound to track down Web
sites related to this book.
1. Go to www.facthound.com
2. Type in a search word related to this
book or this book ID: 075650645X.
3. Click on the Fetch It button.
Your trusty FactHound will fetch the best
Web sites for you!

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Index
air pollution, 15, 19
animals, 9, 13
cloth, 19
date, 7
deforestation, 15
Earth Month, 7
Earth Week, 7
Endangered Species Act, 13
energy waste, 19
environment, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), 13
extinction, 13
Hayes, Denis, 11
insects, 15

lights, 19
napkins, 19
Nelson, Gaylord, 9, 11
Northern Hemisphere, 7
paper, 19
pesticides, 15
plants, 9, 13, 17
pollution, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19
rallies, 17
recycling, 19
spring, 7
trees, 15, 17
waste, 15, 19
water waste, 19

About the Author

Marc Tyler Nobleman has written more than 40 books for young
readers. He has also written for a History Channel show called
The Great American History Quiz and for several childrens
magazines including Nickelodeon, Highlights for Children, and
Read (a Weekly Reader publication). He is also a cartoonist, and
his single panels have appeared in more than 100 magazines
internationally. He lives in Connecticut.

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